Buying a set of Holdfasts.

Wait.

-- Michael :-{| Diapers and politicians both need to be changed often; and for the same reason.

The Veritas holddowns are nice, but a bit pricey and really a different animal, but they’d be worth considering. Yet if you’re looking for just a traditional holdfast, the ones by Gramercy are the best commercially sold holdfasts and are relatively inexpensive. I would not look elsewhere, for a traditional holdfast.

Are they still out of stock?

-- "hold fast to that which is good"

I just spoke with the people at Tools for Working Wood and they said that the holdfasts should be in by mid-March, if not a little sooner. I’d definitely say it’s worth waiting two weeks or so. :-)

-- "hold fast to that which is good"

Mine are blacksmith-made. $10.00 ea. and are really worth the experience of watching them being made.
The blacksmith at Dollywood made mine.
Bill

-- bill@magraphics.us

Yeah, when I called this morning they said 2-3 weeks.

Lately I have had pretty bad luck with wait times, I ordered my bad axe saw I was told 6-10 weeks now after 6 week I am told I am probably 4-6 weeks still out, don’t get me wrong I don’t mind waiting for high quality, and my order from Lee Valley was going to take 5-6 business days and I am currently on wait day 8 and not expected for a day or two, I have had a horrible time with them there customer service was rude and just stopped answering my emails I will probably never order from them again.

So I am slightly skeptical when i hear wait times.

Blacksmith huh? Maybe I will look around.
Carlos

I have holdfasts made by Peter Ross (blacksmith). Very happy with them.
The Best Things also used to stock Williamsburg holdfasts, also blacksmith made.

These are cool.

-- I hate being bipolar. It's awesome! :^ ) ^:

I love the touch of brass on those holdfasts, Scott. Those would be my top choice!

-- "hold fast to that which is good"

wait

-- ㊍ When in doubt - There is no doubt - Go the safer route.

Well I have been explored the blacksmith option seems most will do a holdfast for about $15-20 plus another $10-15 for shipping. This doesn’t seem that bad price wise where I keep getting held up at is consistency, I know the quality I am getting when I order the Gramercy holdfasts, where as if I get one from a smith I just kind of get what I get. I guess it would be different if there was a blacksmith near me so I could see the quality before paying.

I guess two weeks isnt that far away, fingers crossed,

Thanks for all the input
Carlos

PS the site I posted the question on was iforgeiron.com in there general section. If anyone is interested they seemed very friendly and willing to make them.

PSS I have no affiliation / incentive to promore there site.

Carlos, I have the Grammercy ones, they are very nice. I know with these, I am never going to have to buy any others.

-- Mike

Another vote for the Gramercys . Been using them for a couple years now and they’re great.

-- Kenny... The man who needs a tool he doesn't have is already paying for it.

Amos Tucker made me a really nice pair that have worked really well for me. Here is the link to his Etsy store.

-- Bondo Gaposis

I have both the Gramercy and a pair hand-fashioned by Galena, Alaska renaissance man Phil Koontz.

The Gramercy holdfasts are well made and work well. Those made by Phil are works of art and work even better because of their geometry.

If you are in a big hurry and can find a local smith who knows what he is doing and will work quickly then hand-crafted holdfasts can be a great choice. If local sources are not available both the Gramercy version and Phil’s would be worth waiting for.

These are what Charles Neil uses.

http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2005402/15667/Elite-1-Holdfast.aspx

-- W James Brokenbourgh Custom furniture maker http://artisticwoodstudio.com/